IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,180,985
Granted Patent B2
US 7,180,985 · App. 10/649,052 · Granted Feb 20, 2007

Interactive voice response (IVR) aggregation master service

Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,180,985
App. No.
10/649,052
Granted
Feb 20, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of aggregating interactive voice response services from a plurality of interactive voice response systems can include, for at least one caller, storing service information for a plurality of services within an interactive voice response system. Each service can be accessible through a corresponding one of the plurality of interactive voice response systems. The method further can include receiving a call from the caller and receiving an input from the caller over the call, wherein the input identifies at least one of the plurality of services and corresponding interactive voice response systems. The method also can include accessing the interactive voice response system corresponding to the identified service on behalf of the caller, retrieving information from the interactive voice response system, and providing the retrieved information to the caller.

Claims (30)

1. A method of aggregating interactive voice response services from a plurality of interactive voice response systems comprising:

for at least one caller, storing within a master interactive voice response system caller-specific service information for accessing and interacting with a plurality of different interactive voice response systems that each provide at least one service, wherein the master interactive voice response system responds to a single caller-supplied input by forwarding a composite query corresponding to a sequentially related set of commands from the at least one caller to at least one of the plurality of interactive voice response systems, the sequentially related set of commands causing the at least one interactive voice response system to execute at least one service through a sequence of queries and responses based upon the caller-specific service information;

receiving a call from the caller to the master interactive voice response system;

receiving an input from the caller over the call to the master interactive voice response system, wherein the input identifies at least one of the plurality of services and corresponding interactive voice response systems;

accessing the interactive voice response system corresponding to the identified service through the master interactive voice response system on behalf of the caller;

submitting the composite query from the at least one caller to the interactive voice response system;

retrieving information from the interactive voice response system with the master interactive voice response system; and

providing the retrieved information to the caller from the master interactive voice response system.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said service information includes login information for each of said plurality of services, said accessing step comprising logging on to the at least one interactive voice response system.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said service information specifies pre-stored sequentially related instructions for navigating an interactive voice response menu hierarchy for at least one of the services.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said input further specifies a composite sequentially related caller query for information to be retrieved from at least one of the plurality of services, said accessing step further comprising submitting the composite sequentially related caller query to the at least one of the plurality of services.

5. A system for aggregating interactive voice response services from a plurality of interactive voice response systems comprising:

means for storing within a master interactive voice response system caller-specific service information for accessing and interacting with a plurality of different interactive voice response systems that each provide at least one service, wherein the master interactive voice response system is configured to respond to a single caller-supplied input by forwarding a composite query corresponding to a sequentially related set of commands from at least one caller to at least one of the plurality of interactive voice response systems, the sequentially related set of commands causing the at least one interactive voice response system to execute at least one service through a sequence of queries and responses based upon the caller-specific service information;

means for receiving a call from the caller;

means for receiving an input from the caller over the call, wherein the input identifies at least one of the plurality of services and corresponding interactive voice response systems;

means for accessing the interactive voice response system corresponding to the identified service on behalf of the caller;

means for submitting the composite query from the at least one caller to the interactive voice response system;

means for retrieving information from the interactive voice response system; and

means for providing the retrieved information to the caller.

6. A machine readable storage, having stored thereon a computer program having a plurality of code sections executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform the steps of:

for at least one caller, storing within a master interactive voice response system caller-specific service information for accessing and interacting with a plurality of different interactive voice response systems that each provide at least one service wherein the master interactive voice response system responds to a single caller-supplied input by forwarding a composite query corresponding to a sequentially related set of commands from the at least one caller to at least one of the plurality of interactive voice response systems, the sequentially related set of commands causing the at least one interactive voice response system to execute at least one service through a sequence of queries and responses based upon the caller-specific service information;

receiving a call from the caller to the master interactive voice response system;

receiving an input from the caller over the call to the master interactive voice response system, wherein the input identifies at least one of the plurality of services and corresponding interactive voice response systems;

accessing the interactive voice response system corresponding to the identified service through the master interactive voice response system on behalf of the caller;

submitting the composite query from the at least one caller to the interactive voice response system;

retrieving information from the interactive voice response system with the master interactive voice response system; and

providing the retrieved information to the caller from the master interactive voice response system.

7. The machine readable storage of claim 6 , wherein said service information includes login information for each of said plurality of services, said accessing step comprising logging on to the at least one interactive voice response system.

8. The machine readable storage of claim 6 , wherein said service information specifies pre-stored sequentially related instructions for navigating an interactive voice response menu hierarchy for at least one of the services.

9. The machine readable storage of claim 6 , wherein said input further specifies a composite sequentially related caller query for information to be retrieved from at least one of the plurality of services, said accessing step further comprising submitting the composite sequentially related caller query to the at least one of the plurality of services.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 27, 2003
From: COLSON, VICKI L.; CREAMER, THOMAS E.; DAVIS, BRENT L.; JAISWAL, PEEYUSH; MOORE, VICTOR S.
To: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 014442/0518 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20050047559A1 · Mar 3, 2005